Gram Parsons Festival Returns for Two Nights to Commemorate 40 Years Since Parsons’ Death

Friday and Saturday, November 8 and 9, Douglas Corner Café will be host to an annual international festival that recognizes the genre-bending musical contributions of a man who died 40 years ago this year, but who seems to have more fans with each new generation.

Who was this artist? He’s consistently listed in Rolling Stones’ “100 Greatest Artists of All Time.” but one of only a handful on that list not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Although he died 40 years ago, two premiere music magazines (Uncut and Mojo) did cover stories on him early this year. He has had more books written about him than just about any person in history who died by age 26. And there is a petition to induct him into the Country Music Hall of Fame (begun by Gram InterNational) with nearly 11,000 signatures and comments so far from ardent fans around the world.

This influential artist was Cecil Ingram Connor III, otherwise known as Gram Parsons. This year marks 40 years since his first solo album release (GP), followed by his death September 19, 1973, and posthumous release of his final masterpiece Grievous Angel.

The Douglas Corner tribute event will be our sixth annual in Nashville and third at this legendary venue, our home base. The two-night festival features full performances from bands and artists that are chosen as being in the legacy of this seminal artist and what he was trying to accomplish. All of them will tell you that they follow in Gram Parsons’ footsteps; they will play their own material as well as Parsons’ songs they choose.

This year we are thrilled to have 16 bands/performers over the two nights. Friday will be bands night, and Saturday acoustic or singer/songwriter night. Jock Bartley of Gram Parsons’ Fallen Angels and Jock’s own band Firefall will be there. The strong and beautiful voice of Nashville’s own Natalie Noone (daughter of sixties star Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits fame) will share her strong songwriting skills. Bob Buchanan, Parsons’ band mate and co-author of “Hickory Wind,” will be offering up a full set. Most performers are local, but they are also coming from Denver, Chicago, Saginaw, and Ottawa, Canada. Live cuts of Gram Parsons will be played over Douglas Corner’s great P.A. during the brief band changeovers. Gram InterNational is the ultimate event to honor Gram Parsons, as well as always being the party of the season!